NSW older persons legal service

The Aged-Care Rights Service (TARS) has been expanded by Legal Aid NSW, through their Community Legal Centres Funding Program.

The new expanded service will provide legal assistance and advice to elderly people in the community as well as the residents of aged care facilities and retirement villages.

This new legal service will be targeted at older people who are socially and economically disadvantaged. TARS will also provide community legal education.

Legal assistance and advice provided in the following matters:

* Consumer issues – debt management, contractual matters and unfair contracts, provision of goods and services.

* Human rights matters – age discrimination, financial abuse by relatives and carers, access to the administration of state and commonwealth law and programs.

* Social security – elderly members of the community in NSW will have access to legal assistance from TARS if their interaction with the welfare system fails.

* Alternative decision making – issues involving the capacity to make financial and care decisions. TARS can provide legal advice and assistance in relation to powers of attorney and enduring guardianship issues.

The education service will be targeted at the following client groups:

* Aged persons living in the community
* Residents of retirement villages
* Residents of aged care facilities
* Members of community groups
* Financially disadvantaged persons
* Older persons who are vulnerable due to their age, frailty and/or disability